Definitely Acquired: Cantonese Children's Acquisition of Definiteness

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BEAL_v9_Chow_Snyder.pdf (439.61 KB)

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2024-11

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Ohio State University. Libraries

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Abstract

This study aims to assess Cantonese-speaking children’s ability to express definiteness through classifiers in an adult-like manner. Despite the fact that Cantonese lacks determiners, as shown by the NP/DP and nominal mapping parameters, scholars claim that Cantonese can still achieve several functions of determiners through classifiers, and that bare classifiers [Cl+N] specifically are capable of expressing definiteness, similar to English’s the. Past studies have shown that English-speaking children exhibit sensitivity to definiteness through the at ages 1-3. We claim that there is likewise the existence of early-age sensitivity to definiteness in Cantonese-speaking children, and that there is support for Cheng and Sybesma’s claim that bare classifiers in Cantonese are comparable to definite articles in English.

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L1 acquisition, definiteness, bare classifier

Citation

Chow, Ian and Snyder, William. "Definitely Acquired: Cantonese Children's Acquisition of Definiteness." Buckeye East Asian Linguistics, vol. 9 (November 2024), p. 22-31.

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https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/105422

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Buckeye East Asian Linguistics 9 (BEAL 9)